Machine for making closure caps



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Pnatented May 12, 1942 MACHINE Fon MAKING CLosUIm CAPs John C. Gibbs, Brooklyn, N. Y., asslgnor to Anchor Cap & Closure Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 12, 1937, Serial No. 168,536

26 Claims.

' concealed container engaging means.

Screw closure caps having an inturned bead or wire edge wherein container engaging lugs or thread projections are formed are very popular because the threads or lugs are not visible from the exterior of the caps and the caps have the appearance of more expensive caps formed of plastic molding compounds. A very popular cap of the above type is illustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 9,642, filed March 6, 1935, now Patent 2,089,954.

The present invention aims to provide an improved cap forming machine for making closures of the above type in a simple and inexpensive manner. The machine is designed to fabricate caps at a relatively high rate of speed without subjecting the material from which the caps are formed to severe bending strains or damaging the lacquer or decorative coating of the material. Also, the machine is capable of forming caps conforming to a prescribed standard so that the caps are substantially uniform and properly t the thread finish of the containers to form a secure seal in every instance. The present machine accomplishes this by accurately maintainingthe distance between the upper surface of the threads or lugs and the cover part of the cap within a permissive range of tolerances and by maintaining the skirt of the cap circular and of uniform length throughout its circumference. Also, `the machine forms caps which are free from irregularities or exposed edges of metal which might scratch the glass containers and weaken the threads thereon.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved cap forming machine primarily adapted for making closure caps having concealed lugs or threads in the skirt thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means eiective progressively to form concealed lugs or threads in the skirt of a blank.

Another object of the invention is to provide an intermittently rotated table having suitable sockets for holding the blanks in predetermined positions while the lug forming means are effective.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for manufacturing screw closure caps from lacquered or coated sheet metal or the like, which subjects the cap to a minimum amount of bending strains and does not mar the lacquer l COating,

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine adapted to form closure caps having concealed threads or lugs constructed to give maximum strength.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for manufacturing closure caps adapted to form a substantially smooth circular flattened inturned bead at the lower part of the skirt of the cap having concealed lugs at spaced intervals.

Another object ol the invention is to provide a machine adapted to form closure caps which conform to a predetermined standard and are adapted to t the sealing finish of the containers and form a secure seal in every instance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device and method for adjusting the position of the container engaging portions of the caps.

and eliminating irregularities at the lower portion of the skirt during the manufacture of the caps.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine which is automatic in operation, requiring minimum amount of manual supervision.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine havingr tools for forming closure caps'which are readily removed and replaced by tools for forming closure caps of another size.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine adapted to form an inturned hollow bead in the skirt of a blank, flatten the bead, form lugs in the bead, correct the position of the lugs, and insert a sealing liner to produce a finished cap.

A further object of the invention consists in the combination of elements and arrangements of parts adapted to achieve the objects enumerated above.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an intermittently rotatable table and a press carsuitable blanks into closure caps:

Fig. 1a is a fragmentary sectional view of a blank adapted to be fabricabd into a closure Capi Fig. 1b is a fragmentary sectional view showing the blank after a bead has been formed in theskirtthereof;

Fig. 1c is a fragmentary sectional view showing the blank after the bead has been flattened;

Fig. 1d is 'a fragmentary sectional view showing4 the blank after lugs or container engaging projections have been formed from the bead to provide a closure cap;

Fig. 1e is a fragmentary sectional view showing the cap after the position of the lugs has. been sauged or corrected:

Fig. 1f isa fragmentary sectional view showing the cap having a cardboard liner or the like inserted therein;

Fig. 1g is a fragmentary sectional, view showingthecap having a sealing liner or the like inserted therein.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of a machine illustrating a preferred embodiment o! the invention:

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 2 with the press omitted for clearness:

Fig. 4 is a top plan view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a device for feeding blanks to sockets of the dial table of the machine;

Fig; 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-8 of Fig. 4:

Fig. 7 is atop plan view of a cam for raising the sockets while the blanks are being shaped by the cap forming devices;

Fig.I 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9 9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view illustrating a device for seating the blanks in the sockets carried by the dial table;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view, illustraty sans rying a series of tools for progressively forming 21 I an enlarged sectional view illustrata devicefor cutting sealing liners and insertthem into the closure caps:

Fig. 25 is a bottom view of the cutting device illustrated inFig. 24:

, Fig. 26 is aside elevational view of the liner cutting device illustrated in Fig. 24 and a mechanism for operating the device;l

Fig. 21 is a top plan view illustrating the mechanism for operating the liner cutting device;

Fig. 28 is a sectional view of a device for resectional view taken along the line moving the finished caps from the dial table:

and

Fig. 29 is a fragmentary top plan view of a mechanism for intermittently rotating the table step by step.

Described generally, the machine (Fig. 1) comprises an intermittently rotatable dial table i or the like having a circularly arranged series of sockets or matrices 2 thereon for receiving blanks 3 formed of lacquered sheet metal or the like, and a suitable press having a head 4 for supporting aseries of tools A, B, C, D, E, F and G adapted to progressively form the blanks into Vclosure caps provided with concealed lugs or threads (Fig. 1a).

The blanks (Fig. la) preferably comprise a cover portion l and a depending ange or skirt l having its free edge l bent slightly inwardly to facilitate the formation of an inturned bead and lugs in the mannerabout to be described. 'I'he blanks are delivered to the dial table i by a suitable feeding or transferring device T and are pushed downwardly' and seated in the sockets 2 by a plunger A or the like, with the free edge I of the skirt facing upwardly. The table is then rotated to move the blank underneath a tool B adapted to form a substantially circular hollow inturned bead 9 (Fig. 1b) which is flattened (Fig. l'c) at the next station by a tool C and is set inwardly at an acute angle with respect to the skirt. Preferably, the tool C also forms an annular depression il in the bead adjacent the edge of the skirt to facilitate bending of the fiating a device for forming an inturned bead in the skirt of the blank;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line |2- I2 of Fig. 1l showing the device in another position Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken i3-i3 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged staggered sectional view taken along the line II-Il of Fig. l5 illustrating a device for flattening the bead:

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line |5-i5 of Fig. 14;

' Fig. 16 is a bottom view of the bead ilattening device illustrated in Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged staggered sectional view taken along the' line Il-I'I of Fig. 19 illustrating a device for forming container engaging lugs in the bead Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken along the line i8-I8 ofFig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a bottom view of the device illustrated in Fig. 17;

Fig. 20, is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a device for correcting the position of the lugs;

Fig. 21 is a bottom view of trated in Fig. 20;

Fig. 22- is a sectional view taken along the line 22-22 of Fig. 21;

along the line the device illusl tened bead at succeeding stations of the press. After the table has been rotated again, the blank is moved to a tool D which is adapted to form suitable lugs Ii (Fig. 1d)l from the bead and fold the portions of the bead i2 intermediate the lugs against the skirt. At the next station, a tool E engages the lugs and adjusts their position with respect to the cover part (Fig. le) The tool E also flattens the intermediate bead portions il to eliminate irregularities I (Fig. 1d) and makes the skirt uniformly circular. 'Ihe cap is then delivered to a tool F adapted to cut a cardboard liner i3 or the like (Fig. 1f) and insert'I it in the cap and is thereafter delivered to a similar liner cutting tool G adapted to insert an oil paper sealing liner I4 or the like (Fig. 1g) The completed caps may be removed from the table by a suitable ejecting device at H and therafter cleaned, counted and packed for shipmen The blank feeding devices Referring again to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, there is shown a chute I5 adapted to receive blanks from a blank forming machine and deliver them to a rotatable platform or table I6 substantially at the middlel thereof. A spiral guideway I1 is mounted above the platform Il adapted -to keep a reserve supply of blanks on the platform anddeliver themto the cap forming machine. Y

A suitable mechanism, illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 may be utilized for delivering cap blanks along a guideway lextending from the spiral I1 to the dial table I. The mechanism comprises a longitudinally reciprocating member` 2|, a pawl 22 pivotally mounted in a recess 24 at 23 for engaging the skirt of a blank, and suitable transversely extending members 25 for supporting the reciprocating member 2|. When the reciprocating member 2| is moved toward the dial table, the pawl 22 advances a row of blanks and when moved in the opposite direction, the pawl is moved upwardly into the recess 24 and at the end of the stroke the pawl drops downwardly1 to engage the succeeding blank. To prevent the row of blanks from moving too freely while in the guideway 20, a resiliently mounted retarding arm or wiper 21 preferably forms a portion of the guideway at one side thereof.

The slidable member 2| preferably is reciprocated by an oscillating arm 28 pivotally mounted at 29 and having a notch or recess 30 adapted to receive a projection 3| or connecting member on the slidable member. Preferably, the arm 28 is adapted to be moved in one direction by a cam 32 mounted on a rod 33 (Fig. 2) operatively connected to the press, as will be described hereafter, and is adapted to be moved in the other direction by a suitable spring 34 or the like (Fig. 4).

If desired, the arm 28 may be hinged at 35 or foldably connected with respect to its pivot 29 to permit it to be raised upwardlyfto disconnect the recess and projection 3| and stop movement of the slidable member 2| without stopping operation of the press. Also, the transversely extending members 25 for mountingthe slidable member 2| may be hinged at 36 to raise the slidable member upwardly from the guideway and facilitate access to the guideway in the event that blanks become jammed therein.

In Figs. 3 and 10 a suitable device is illustrated adapted to cooperate with the reciprocating feeding member 2| to place the blanks one at a time into the sockets 2 on .the dial table. This device preferably comprises a guideway 31 extending transversely with respect to the blank guideway 20 for receiving the foremost blank and a slidable member 38 adapted to advance the foremost blank into a position directly above the socket at the blank inserting station. In order to enable the plunger A to insert the blank (Fig. 10), the top and bottom of the guideway 31 have apertures 39 and 39. When the press is lowered, the plunger extends through the aperture 39, engages the blank, moves it through aperture 39' and inserts it into the socket.

The slidable member 38 is adapted to be reciprocated in the guideway at desired intervals by suitable connecting means which will be described in connection with the drive mechanism.

The intermittently rotated table The rotatable table or dial is shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 3, 10, l1, 12, 13 and 29 and preferably comprises a bed-plate or platform 48 supported by a suitable frame or base 4| (Fig. 2) adapted to be secured to the floor, and a substantially annular dial member 42 rotatably mounted on the platform adapted to be rotated intermittently by a suitable mechanism, which will be described hereafter (Fig. 29) The annular member 42 is provided with a series of circularl\y arranged /apertures 44 (Fig. 10) having socket or matrix members lmounted therein adapted to receive the blanks 3. Any suitable number of Asockets may be utilized depending upon the diameter of the annular member and thesize of the caps to be formed, and if desired, the sockets may be attached in a manner to permit them to be interchanged for sockets adapted to accommodate other size blanks;

The sockets or dies (Figs. 10 and 11) preferably comprise a slidable sleeve member 45 adapted to form the side wall of the. socket, a member 46 slidable with respect to the sleeve member 45 adapted toform the bottom of the socket, a

bushing member 41 seated in an aperture 44 of' the table adapted to support the 'side and bottom members 45 and 46, and a casing member 49 secured to the bushing member 41 having an inwardly extending flange 58 at its upper end adapted to cooperate with a flange 5| on the sleeve member 45 to limit upward movement of the members 45 and 46 within the casing member 49. To prevent the formation of air pockets in the sockets when the blanks are inserted tending to unseat the blanks, the bottom members may be provided with one or more venting apertures 48 (Fig. 10).

Preferably, the bottom member 46 has a bifurcated or slotted downwardly depending portion 52 adapted to extend through an aperture 54 in the bushing member 41 to permit the members 46 to be raised by a cam device .or the like about to be described. The sleeve member 45 may be raised independently of the bottom member by a radially extending member 55 mounted in the slotted portion having a depending portion 56 adapted to engage a cam surface or the like (Figs. 11, 12 and 13).

In order to raise the sleeve and bottom members of the sockets while certain steps are performed by the tools of the press, a cam track 51 or the like is provided in a groove 58 in the bed-plate 40 beneath the intermittently rotated annular dial member 42 (Figs. 7, 8 and 9). The cam track preferably comprises a cam portion 59 for engaging the depending portion 52 of the bottom member 46 to raise the bottom member 46 at the bead forming station (Figs. '7 and 12) so that; the free edge of the skirt of the blank projects upwardly from the socket and may be engaged by the bead forming tool, and similar cam portions 60 (Fig. 8) and 6| (Fig. 9) for raising the blank at the lug forming station and the finished cap at the ejecting station.

The sleeve members 45 of the sockets may be raised upwardly independently of the bottom members 46 at the bead curling and lug forming stations by suitable cam means. To accomplish this at; the curling or bead formingystation, a resiliently mounted anvil member 62 (Fig. 12) supported by a spring 63 extends upwardly through the cam portion 59 and is provided with a cam surface 54 vadapted to engage a cam surface 65 cn the depending portion 56 of the member 55. The resilient mounting permits the curling tool to engage the sleeve member 45 and push it downwardly without subjecting the curling sleeve and socket parts to excessive strains.

The sleeve members 45 may be raised or resiliently supported in a similar manner at the lug forming station by a cam portion 66 (Fig. 8) projecting upwardly at the middle of the cam portion 60. The cam portion 66 is adapted vto engage the depending portion 56 and extend into the slotted depending portion 52 of the bottom member 40. In this manner. the cam portions sa and u cooperate with tno depending portions 'B2 and Il (Figs. 17 and 20) in engagement therewith, and prevent the bottom members and sleeve,

the lug forming station to the lug correcting station so that the blank cannot rotate in the socket while transferred from one station to the other. Consequently, the lugs formed from the bead of the blank are properly positioned with respect to the lug correcting tools and the blank need not be oriented before the lug correcting tools are applied. The bottom and sleeve members of the socket may be supported in raised position by an anvil member 61 (Figs. 8 and 17) which is a continuation of the cam portions ill and 88. This anvil member is mounted on an adjustable resilient device 68 adapted to yield when the cam is forced downwardly by the lug forming device to prevent the tools from applying excessive forces or distorting the blank. A more detailed description of the cam portions and their operation will be given in connection with the description of the respective stations at which they are effective.

The press machine The press mechanism is illustrated more particularly in Fig. 2 and preferably comprises a pair of upright columns mounted on the base or frame 4|, acrank shaft 1I extending through bearings at the upper end ofthe columns, a flywheel 12 at one end of the crank shaft and a connecting rod 14 for reciprocating the press head 4 carrying the various cap forming tools. If desired, the press head may also carry a suitable mechanism for intermittently rotating the table while the crank shaft may be provided with an eccentric mechanism for operating the blank feeding devices. 'I'hese mechanisms will be described in detail in connection with the drive means for operating the machine.

The press head preferably is substantially U-shaped or semi-circular (Fig. 1) and has suitable apertures 11 therein spaced circumferentially for mounting the tools above the table in vertical alignment with the stations at which the sockets are positioned. Reading from left to right (Fig. 2) the tools illustrated herein comprise a device A for inserting and seating the blanks I' in the sockets, a device B for forming a substantially hollow bead in the skirt I of the blanks (Fig. 1b), a device C for flattening the bead (Fig. 1c), a device D for setting portions of the flattened bead inwardly to provide container engaging lugs (Fig. 1d), a device E for correcting the position of the lugs with respect to the cover portionvof the blank (Fig. le). and devices F and G for cutting and inserting sealing liners in the caps (Figs. 1f and 1g). By moving the press head downwardly, each of the tools is effective to simultaneously perform its respective operation upon a cap blank. delivered by the sockets on the dial table. After downward movement o f the press head, the table is rotated a predetermined distance to advance the blanks to the succeeding tools so that the blanks are progressively formed into closure caps. The various tools carried by the press are illustrated more particularly in Figs 10 to 27 and each will now be described in detail.

assauts The blank inserting device Referring moreparticularly to Fig. 10 there is shown a suitable device A adapted to cooperate `with the cap feeding devices to insert a blank I into a socket on the table. This do;- vice preferably comprises a plunger or plug` lli slightly smaller in diameter than the blank. a rod Il supporting the' plunger 8U- slidably mounted'on the press head 4, and a resilient member such as a spring 82 for normally holding the rod downwardly but adapted to yield to permit the rod to move slightly upwardly when the plunger seats the blank in the socket. The plunger is adapted to be inserted into the skirt of the blank and engage the underside of the cover portion to properly position the blank in the socket so that succeeding operations performed upon the blank by the cap forming tools are uniform in every instance. By reason of the resilient mounting, the plunger will not mar or distort the caps when they are placed into the socket, and the venting aperture 4I eliminates compression of air in the sockets tending to unseat the blanks. Preferably, the plunger is attached Vto the rod in such a manner that it can be easily removed and replaced by plungers for inserting blanks of other shapes or sizes lThe device for forming the hollow bead ing into an aperture 'l1 of the press head andi secured thereto by a key or the like. The height of the device A with respect to the table may be adjusted by a pair of threaded collars 88 or the like,.attached to the connecting member below the press head.

In order to bend the free edge )of the blanks into a hollow bead 9, a tubular sleeve Il having a curling groove 89 (Fig. 12) adjacent its lower end is attached to the lower end of the connecting member by suitable bolts 90 or the like, and a plunger 9| having a tapered lower end is slidably mounted within the sleeve 81 adapted to be inserted into the skirt of the blank and hold the blankagainst the bottom member 46 of the socket. The plunger is provided with a flange 92 adapted to cooperate with a shoulder 94 on the inner walls of the sleeve l1 to limit the downward movement of the plunger and a suitable spring 95 mounted in a socket 88 in the connecting member 84 engages the flange 92 to urge the plunger downwardly.

When the blanks are delivered to this tool, the bottom member 46 of the socket is raised upwardly .by the cam portion 59 (Figs. 11 and 12) and is held in elevated position so that the free edge of the skirt of the blank projects upwardly from the socket. The sleeve member 45 forming the side walls of the socket is raised independently by the cam surface 64 of the reslliently mounted anvil member 62 adapted to hold the sleeve in elevated position so that the upper end of the sleeve member 45 extends above the socket' casing 49 (Fig. 12). In this manner, when the press head moves downwardly, the plunger 9i holds the blank against the bottom member 46 and the lower end of the curling sleeve Il engages the upper end of the sleeve member 45 of the 75 socket to form a closed casing about the upper end of the skirt of the blank. As the curling sleeve 81 is moved further downwardly, the free edge of the skirt of the blank is bent into a substantially hollow bead 9 by the curling groove 09 (Fig. 11), and the sleeve member 45 is moved downwardly by the sleeve B1 in opposition to the spring 63 supporting the anvil member 62. During the curling operation, the sleeves 45 and 81 form a closedcasing or sleeve about the outer Wall of the skirt of the blank (Fig. 1l) which prevents the skirt from being bent out-of-round or distorted. Also, maximum downward movement of the curling sleeve 81 is attained without engaging or exerting excessive strains on the socket casings 49. In the event that the curling sleeve and casing engage the springsupporting the anvil 62 and the spring 95 for urging the curling sleeve downwardly provide a cushioning effeci'.

When the press head is moved upwardly the plunger 9| holds the blank in the socket vwhile the curling sleeve 81 moves upwardly and upon further upward movement of the press, the plunger 9| is withdrawn from the blank. In order to prevent the blank from being raised by the plunger 9| or shifted in the socket, an auxiliary plunger 91 is slidably mounted within .the plunger 9| which is adapted to be urged downwardly by a spring 99 tol hold the blank in the socket while the plunger 9| is raised. During downward movement of the press and engagement of the blank by the plunger 9|, the auxiliary plunger 91 assists in holding the blank downwardly in the socket. After the press head is raised to withdraw the curling sleeve and plungers 9| and 91, the table is rotated again to deliver the blank to the succeeding tool.

The bead flattening device A preferred device C for flattening the hollow bead and setting it at an acute angle with respect to the skirt of the blank (Fig. 1c) is illustrated more particularly in Figs. 14, 15 and 16. 'Ihis device may be mounted on the press head in a similar manner as the bead curling device and cornprises a mounting member and a collar member |0I secured to the mounting member for supporting a substantially annular member |02 adapted to engage the upper part of the bead (Fig. 14) and for supporting expandible jaw members |04 adapted to engage and flatten the bead upwardly against the annular member |02.

The annular member |02 preferably has an aperture |05 therein through which the jaw members |04 extend, and an annular depending portion |06 extending downwardly from the inner periphery thereof for engaging the bead. This depending portion may have an inwardly and downwardly tapered surface |01 which determines the angle at which the bead is set inwardly with respect to the skirt of the blank. Preferably, an annular projection |09 is provided on the tapered surface adapted to form the annular groove l0 (Figs. 1c and 14) or depression in the flattened bead which facilitates setting the flattened bead inwardly against the skirt of the blank without causing iregularities at the lower edge of the blank where the bead is folded with respect to the skirt. The annular member may be connected to the mounting member by bolts ||0 or the like and may be spaced therefrom by sleeves or tubular members extending about the bolts. Any number of bolts and sleeves may be utilized, for example, four, as illustrated herein.

The jaw members for engaging the underside of the bead preferably are provided with an outwardly extending circular segments I|2 (Fig. 16) which cooperate to engage the underside of the bead 9 and press the bead upwardly against the tapered surface |01 of the annular portion |06. Any suitable number of jaw members may be utilized, for example, four," so that the four segments provide a circular flange for engaging the bead.

The jaw members may be operatively mounted inl any suitable manner but preferably are provided with extensions |4 at the upper end thereof adapted to be secured to a key member ||5 l slidably mounted in slots or groove |16 (Figs. 14

after they are inserted past the bead 9.

and 15) in the collar member I0|. v",Ihe *slidable key members are adapted to move radially inwardly and outwardly in the slots as well as upwardly and downwardly.

Upward movement of the key members and the jaws preferably'is effected by slidably mounting a flange member ||1 on the sleeves having bolts ||9 or thelike threaded therein which, upon downward movement of the press, engage the dial 42 (Fig. 14) and move the flange member ||1 upwardly to cause the upper surface of the flange to engage the extensions ||4 on the jaw members |04 and move the jar members upwardly to flatten the bead. The distance the bolts ||9 are spaced from the table may be adjusted by suitable lock nuts |20 or the like threaded to the bolts. This adjustment determines the distance the jaw members are moved upwardly when the bolts engage the table.

The jaw members preferably are moved radially outwardly after the bead collapsing segments ||2 -have been inserted into the blank, by a rod |2| or the like secured to the collar member |0| having a cam surface |22 for engaging cam surfaces |23 substantially at the upper end of the jaw members and a cam surface |24 for engaging cam surfaces |25 substantially at the lower end of the jaw members. These cam surfaces are positioned so that the jaw members are expanded By providing a cam surface at the upper end and the lower end of the jaw members, the jaw members are moved outwardly horizontally and are not tilted out of effective flattening position. Also, upon upward movement, the cooperating cam surfaces maintain the jaw members in their expanded position so that they are eiective to flatten the bead upwardly without forming irregularities in the bead. When the press head is 4moved upwardly, the flange member ||1 slides downwardly on the sleeves and releases upward pressure on the extensions |4 of the jaw members to permit them to move downwardly with respect to the collar member. To insure downward movement of the jaws, spring members |26 are mounted in the collar member which urge slidably mounted members |21 downwardly against the extensions ||4 of the jaw members (Fig. 14, left side). Also, during upward movement of the press, the rod |2| provided with the cam portions |22 and |24 moves upwardly out of expanding position to permit the expandible jaw members to be moved radially inwardly by slidable members |29 mounted in the annular member |02 which are urged inwardly by spring members |30 orr the like. Preferably, inward movement of the jaws is effected prior to relative upward movement of the jaws with respect to the blank so that the blank is not withdrawn from the socket by the segments II2 extending under the bead of the blank. f

The bead is now adapted to be provided with container engaging lugs at the succeeding station of the machine. v

The Zug forming device A preferred device D for forming container .engaging lugs or projections II (Fig. 1d) is illusporting columns 1t. When the press head is lowered, the cam I is operative to move the rod downwardly with the press head so that the cam member |52 is out of engagement with the cam portions I4 of th'e expandihle fingers. Upon further downward movement after the hookshaped portions |41 of the lug forming fingers have been inserted into the blank, the cam |50 is effective to raise the shaft |54 and rod to cause the cam member |52 tomove the lingers radially outwardly and engage portions of the bead. Further upward movement of the rod |5I causes upward movement of the collar |50 carryadapted to form any desired number of lugs, for

example, two, three, four or six, but for illustrative purposes shown herein adapted to form Jaw members and lingers are two diametrically positioned lugs.

The annular member- |35 preferably has a downwardly facing groove |4| at the inner periphery thereof and a substantiallyv vertical inner .wall |42 portion adapted to engage the rounded lower edge and the exterior of the skirt.

respectively (Fig. 17), to maintain the circular' contour of the skirtduring the flattening of the bead and to prevent the edge of the skirt from .being distorted. The annular member may be secured to the mounting collar by suitable screws or bolts I 44 and may -be vspaced therefrom by members |45 having downwardly projecting portions I45 provided with a shaping surface adapted to engage the upwardly facing surface of the -bead 9 and cooperate with the fingers |40 to shape the lugs When the press is lowered, the annular member engages the sleeve member 45 of the sockets which h-as been elevated by the cam portion 55, and cooperates therewith to encase the skirt of the cap and prevent distortion thereof during the formation of the lugs. The spring mounting 58 (Fig. 8) permits downward movement of the sleeve 45 when engaged by the downwardly moving annular member.

The lug forming fingers |45 preferably have a hook-shaped portion |41 adapted to-extend outwardly beneath the closed bead and fold the bead against the depending portions |45 and have cam portions |49 at the inner radial side thereof. The fingers are pivotally mounted at the upper ends thereof. on a collar |55 extending about a rod I5I slidably mounted in the mounting sleeve |35 and collar |35 and are adapted to'be expanded .by a cam member |52, secured to the lower end of the rod, which engages the cam surfaces I4! of the nngers upon upward moveing the fingers so that the hook-shaped portions |41 of the fingers fold the bead against the depending portions I45 to shape the lugs. When the press head is raised, the cam member |52 moves outof engagement with the cam surfaces on the fingers and suitable plungers |5| oxthe like urged downwardly by springs |52 move the fingers inwardly so that they may be retracted without raising or otherwise moving the blank.

Preferably, four bead atteningf jaws |31 vare provided (Fig. 19) which may be in the form of expandible segments ,and each of the Jaws has an arcuate; surface |55 for engaging the portions I2 of the bead intermediate the lugs to flatten them against the skirt of theblank (F|g. 1 7 left side). The Jaws are slidably mounted above the annular member |35 and are normally held in a collapsed position by a suitable spring member |58 or the like extending about the exterior thereof. 'Ihe jaws |31 are slidablymounted with respect to the supporting collar |35 by securing them to key members |31 by suitable bolts |55 and pins |15 or the like. The key members are' slidably seated in slots or recesses |1I to permit inward and outward movement of the Jaws.

Preferably, the bolt members extend upwardly into an enlarged recess |12 provided in the collar |35 and are slidable therein.

The bead flattening jaws or segments |51 are expanded by suitable tapered or cam-shaped surfaces |14 at the lower end thereof which engage a' corresponding surface |15 on the socket casing members 4l lo that the key members |51 move outwardly in the slots |1| and the arcuate portions |55 of the segments flatten the bead l of the blank against the skirt. While the jaws are being expanded, the sleeve member 45 of the socket cooperates with the annular member |35 to form a cylindrical casing about the skirt of the cap. When the press is raised and the surfaces |14l and |15 are out of engagement, the segments are moved inwardly by an annular spring |15`enclrcling the segments andv retained by suitable grooves |11 formed in the segments.

ment of the rods. The rod preferably is threaded to a shaft |54 extending through the mounting sleeve |35 and preferably is adapted to be adlusted with respect to the fingers to determine the amount of outward movement of the fingers when engaged Iby the cam.

The shaft |54 may be raised and lowered in any suitable manner during the operation of the press, but preferably is engaged by a connecting link |55 (Fig. 17) or the like pivoted to one end of a bell crank I 55 pivotally mounted on the press head at |51 (Fig. 2). 'I'he other end of the bell crank carries a roller |55 adapted to engage a cam |55 mounted on one of the press head sup- In order to prevent the blank from being removed from or shifted in the socket when the lug forming device is raised upwardly, suitable means are provided forstripping the blank from the lug forming portio |40 and |41 and for holding the blank do wardy in the socket. Such means may comprise a conduit Ill extending through the rod |5| and cam member |52 and a tube |I| adapted to be connected to means for periodically supplying compressed air. It willr be understood that mechanical means such as a resiliently mounted plunger, ycouldals'o be utilized for this Purpose.

'Ihe blank, after being subjected to the foregoing operations, is now in the form of a closure cap and will be referred to as a closure cap hereafter. The caps preferably are thereafter delivered by the dial table to a device for correcting or gauging the position of the lugs and removing irregularities in the lower edge of the skirt.

The lug correcting device A preferred device E forcorrecting the position of thelugs with respect to the cover part and for removing irregularities I (Fig. 1d) in the lower portion of the skirt, is illustrated more particularly in Figs. 20, 21, 22 and 23. 'I'he lug correcting operation is important in the formation of the closure since the distance between the upper surface of the lugs and the underside quently, any excessive rotative effort exerted by the sealing machine to force the cap on the oo ntainer, will cause distortion of the cap or breakage of the container. If this dimension is too large, the lugs are not pulled downwardy by the container projections to force the gasket or liner .against the rim of the container and form a seal. Also, it is desirable to remove irregularities I in the bead at portions intermediate the lugs. Such irregularities are the result of utilizing expandible jaws segments for setting the bead inwardly and usually occur at the space between adjacent jaw segments, for example, |31 and |31b (Fig. 19).

The lug correcting device (Fig. is mounted on the press head in substantially the same manner as the bead 'flattening device (Fig. 14) and comprises a mounting member |85, a collar |86 for supporting an annular' member |81 adapted to engage the lower edge of the skirt of the cap, and segmental jaw members |89 adapted to correct or gauge the position of the lugs and flatten intermediate portions of the bead.

The annular member has downwardly depending portions or projections |90 (Fig. 22) adapted to engage the upwardly facing portions of thel lugs to place them in a predetermined position with respect to the cover part of the cap and substantially at horizontal portions- |9| (Fig. 23) intermediate the lug engaging portions for engaging the upwardly facing lower edge of the skirt. These horizontal portions insure flattening of the skirt at all portions intermediate the lugs and provide a skirt of uniform length throughout its circumference. The annular portion is mounted in-substantially the same manner as the annular portion illustrated in connection with the bead attening device (Fig. 14) and is adapted to be moved downwardly by the mounting collar attached to the press.

Preferably, there are four segmentally arranged jaw members adapted to cooperate to engage the inner periphery of the skirt of the cap. In order to shape the lugs Il, diametrically opposite jaw members (Fig. I22) are provided with a recess |92 for receiving the lugs of the cap and outwardly extending anvil portions |94 adapted to support the thread engaging surface of the lugs while the depending portions |90 engage the lugs and set them downwardly. In this manner, the vertical position of the lugs with respect to the cover part of the cap is adjusted and at the same time the shape of the lugs is corrected.

The two diametrically opposite jaw members intermediate the jaw membersfor correcting the lugs are adapted to flatten the beard to remove irregularities, particularly at the points where the adjacent jaws |31 for setting the bead against the inner wall of the skirt are spaced apart (Fig. 19). To accomplish-this, these jaw members (Fig. 23) are provided .with a substantially vertical circular surface adapted to press the bead outwardly and remove the irregularities and with substantially horizontal portions |96 adapted to support the bead while the horizontal portion |9I of the annular member |81 is effective to remove irregularities at the lower edge of the skirt. When the jaws |09 are expanded, they are also adapted to adjust the circumference of the cap both as to roundness and size.

The lug correcting jaws preferably are operated by devices similar to those for operating the bead flattening jaws (Fig. 14) for example, they may be slidably mounted on key members |91 (Fig. 20) tting into slots |98 formed in the collar member |86 and .may be expanded by a suitable pin or rod |99 having cam surfaces 200 for engaging cam portions 203 on the jaws to force the jaw outwardly. They may be returned into collapsed position by slidable members 20| urged inwardly by springs 202 or the like. 'I'hey may be moved vertically with respect to the annular member |81 by a device similar to the device i1'- lustrated in connection with the bead flattening tool (Fig. 14).

During the transfer of the cap from the lug forming station to the lug correcting station, the cam portions 66 ts into the slotted depending portion 52 of the bottom member 46 of the sockets and prevents rotation of the cap within the socket. In this manner, the lugs are properly presented to the lug correcting jaws and the caps need not be oriented by any mechanism at this station. Also, while being transferred, the bottom members 46 are held in elevated p0- sition so that the free edge ofthe cap projects upwardly from the sleeve members 45.

The liner cutting and inserting devicesA In order to expedite the manufacture of completed closure caps adapted to be sealed on containers, suitable liner cuttingand inserting device F and G may be associated with the press (Figs. 1, 2, 24, 25, 26 and 27). Usually, two of these devices are provided, one F for inserting a cardboard liner I3 (Fig. 1f) and the other G for inserting an oil paper liner I4 (Fig. 1g) or the like adapted to form a seal on the rim of a container. made of material to perform the functions of both the cardboard and paper liner, only one of these devices is necessary.: Since both of the liner cutting and inserting devices are substantially identical, only one will be described in detail.

'Ihe liner cutting and inserting devices are supplied with suitable strips of liner material by an intermittently operated feeding device comprising a pair of vrollers 205 and 206. (Fig. 2) adapted to unwind rolls 201 of material on reels 208 suitably supported by a frame 209. The material is fed along a guideway 2|0 and across a plate 2|2 above the liner inserting station (Fig. 24). The plate is provided with an aperture 2|3 in registry with the cap in the socket at the liner inserting station and an upwardly extending annular knife edge 2|4 encircles the However, if the sealing liners are and upwardly extending cutting portions 2|5 (Figs. 24 and 25) adapted to compensate for stretching or bending of the liner material during the cutting operation.

In order to insert the. hner cut from the strip of material, a plunger 220 adapted to engage the llnerand push it downwardly through the cutting aperture into the cap, is slidablymounted in the sleeves 2|5 and 2|5. The plunger preferabLv is operated by a slidable rod 22| adapted to be engaged by one end of a lever 222 pivotally mounted on the press head at 224 (Figs. 26 and 27) which is oscillated when the other end 225 thereof engages the stationary member onV -one of the press supporting columns 15. stationary member may be a screw or bolt 225 threaded into a bracket 221 so that it may be adjusted to regulate the oscillation of the le- The ver 222. Preferably, the 'inserting plunger 225 is operated at the end of the downward stroke of the press after the liners have beencut from 2). The 'crank shaft may, in turn, be provided with an eccentric `24| at one end for reciprocating the rod 33 carrying the cam 32 which operates. the blank feeding devices. The press head has a suitable shaft 242 for mounting a bell crank 243 or the like adapted to be linked to a device for intermittently rotating the dial table.

'I'he table rotating device (Fig. 29) preferably comprises a slide 244 mounted on the platform 45, a pawl member 245'pivotally mounted on the slide and a spring 235 adapted to hold the pawl in position to enter one of the ratchet recesses 245 in the dial table and impart step by step movement to the table. In order to stop the table after a predetermined amount of rotation and piace Ithe sockets in alignment with the various tools of the press, a slidable mounted plunger 241 extends into one of. the recesses 245 land checks rotation ofthe table. The plunger is adapted tobe withdrawn when .the pawl mounted on the slide is moved into position to engage the succeeding recess by a pivoted lever arm'248 adapted vto be oscillated by a roller 245 also mounted on the slide.

The slidable member '35, cooperating with the slidable member 2| to place the blanks one at a time in position'to be inserted into the sockets `the strip of material. Upon upward movement of the press, a suitable spring 225 retained in the sleeve 2|5 is vadapted to return the inserting plunger 225 to its upper position.

The cap eiecting device The finished closure cap may be removed from the sockets in any desired manner at the ejecting station H'(Figs. 1 and 3) but preferably by raising the bottom member oi the sockets so that the cover part of the cap is flush with the upper surface of the socket (Fig. 28). To accomplish this, a suitable .cam 5| is mounted in the cam track 51 adapted to engage the depending portions 52 to raise the bottom members upwardly (Figs. 9 and 28). This cam may be pivoted at one end thereof and may be raised and lowered by an adjustable set screw 23| or the like to determine the amount of upward movement of the bottom member 45 of the socket.

by-the plunger A, is'reciprocated by a lever 250 (Fig. 3) pivotally mounted at 25| and adapted to be oscillated by 'a connecting rod 252, in turn, reciprocatedby a bell crank 253 carried by the press. .The bell crank 253 preferably-reciprocates the rod 252 to cause the slidable member .35.to feed a blank to the insertingstation upon Adjacent to the cap electing station, suitable means may be provided for removing the cap from the socket. For example, an air nozzle 235 for vperiodically directing compressed air against the raised cap may be utilized. Preferably, a chute 235 (Figs. 2 and 3) is adapted to receive the caps removed from the sockets and a guard member 231 or the like is positioned adjacent to the chute for guiding the caps therein. The chute is adapted to deliver the caps to a rotating table 235 (F18. 3) -simlar to the table for feeding the blanks to the machine. 'I'he table, in turn, may deliver the caps to a conveyor 240 for delivering the caps to a cleaning and counting mechanism (not shown).

The drive mechanism l through the intermediation of a belt or gear (Fig.

upward movement of the press and upon downward movement of the press to place the slidable member 35 in position to engage the succeeding blank.

The liner material'feeding rollers 205 and 205 may be intermittently operated by a lever or the like adapted to be operatively connected to the press and the blankl feeding and cap delivering tables may be rotated by the motor through the intermediation of suitable be ts'and gears-(Fig. 2).

The safety devices 'A suitable safety device for preventing operation of the press unless the dial table is in proper position, may comprise a rod 255 mounted on the press- (Fig. 3) adapted to extend into'oneof a series o'f apertures 255 in the dial table when the come is in proper position. In the event the 45 so that the cap is completely ejected, pneumatic means 235 for blowing thecap' from the bottom member, and the guard member 231 which guides the cap to the chute 235 and prevents the caps from staying on the socket when the table is rotated.

If the blnl A feeding device fails to deliver a blank to a socket, the machine will not be damaged, because the tools on the press head merely operate idly in the empty socket. 

